2-QB Waiver Wire Future Planning: Week 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon
Aug 29 2013 Tampa FL USA Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon 8 throws the ball during the first half against the Washington Redskins at Raymond James Stadium Kim Klement USA TODAY Sports

If you were desperate for QB2 help last week, and looked to the waiver wire in your 2-QB fantasy football league for salvation, the one person you hopefully turned to was Chad Henne.

It wasn’t pretty for the Henne-led Jacksonville Jaguars offense last week, as it was looking pretty bleak until the waning moments in their match-up versus the Oakland Raiders. How bad was it? How does the Jaguars playing 35 minutes of football without a first down sound? Bad is putting it nicely.

You wouldn’t know it by the box score though, as Henne was able to throw for 241 yards and a touchdown. Respectable fantasy numbers—inflated thanks to garbage time.

When it was all said and done, Henne finished the day with 14.54 standard scoring fantasy points, and wound up week two’s fantasy scoring QB18. In 10 or 12-team 2-QB leagues, those points were fantasy start worthy.

Looking ahead to Week 3, the Jaguars have been mum on the status of Blaine Gabbert, and his hand injury, but no matter which of the Jaguars’ quarterbacks is under center in week three, it’s a situation to avoid, with the Jaguars traveling to Seattle.

Looking ahead at other quarterback situations for week three, not a whole lot really stands out. Michael Vick left for one play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ game versus the San Diego Chargers, but that was it. If you own Vick in 2-QB leagues, you probably already own Nick Foles, and if you don’t, another owner in your league does, ready to stick it to you if/when Vick misses substantial time.

Below I’ve put the spotlight on two quarterback situations that you will want to keep an eye on this week in 2-QB fantasy football leagues, and your 2-QB waiver wire:

Mike Glennon
How bad has it gotten in Tampa Bay?

First, there were reports, eventually refuted, that Josh Freeman had requested a trade out of Tampa Bay.

Second, a Sunday tweet sent out before the Bucs took on the New Orleans Saints, by USA Today NFL writer Jim Corbett, mentioned Bucs rookie quarterback Mike Glennon throwing to receivers, while Freeman threw to a team assistant two hours before the game was set to kickoff. Speculation quickly led to Glennon, not Freeman, starting against the Saints on Sunday.

Once the game started, it was Freeman, not Glennon, taking snaps at quarterback for the Buccaneers. But how long will that last? Buccaneers’ head coach Greg Schiano seems hell bent on destroying that team from within, and if Freeman isn’t able to lead his team to victory, why not let Glennon get some hands on experience?

It’s not like Freeman has done much this season. Here’s a look at Freeman’s statistical output for the first two weeks of the season in terms of fantasy football scoring:

  • Week one – 10.4 fantasy points (QB27)
  • Week two – 6.6 fantasy points (QB30)

Those totals come from a combined 24 of 53 passing, 335 yards passing, two touchdowns, two interceptions and 16 yards rushing.

If Freeman keeps that up he’ll wind up playing himself out of a starting quarterback job in the NFL, and he’s already on the ‘do not start’ list of many fantasy owners in 2-QB leagues.

The Bucs might find that life under Glennon isn’t any better, but he’s the unknown forbidden fruit of Schiano’s luster, and until he takes that first bite out of the apple, Glennon’s the Golden Child in his eyes.

Pick up Glennon from the waiver wire in your 2-QB league and stash him on the bench for now, in a wait and see scenario. If you’re a Freeman owner, Glennon is a must pick up, unless you have a much better QB3 option already in place. If you’re in a shallow 2-QB league, with precious bench spot real estate, wait until/if Glennon gets the nod.

Jason Campbell/Brian Hoyer
Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback Brandon Weeden was being hyped as a potential breakout quarterback, in both real life and fantasy football, but it hasn’t happened for the second-year quarterback out of Oklahoma State yet.

Plenty of excuses can be made for Weeden’s uneventful start to the 2013 NFL campaign, such as him being without his top pass catching option in Josh Gordon, as well as the injured Browns’ O-Line giving up 11 sacks and 27 quarterback hits in just two games.

The reason why the Browns’ quarterbacks are in this section, is because during the Browns’ week two match-up versus division rival Baltimore Ravens, Weeden sprained his right throwing thumb, and could miss the Browns’ game versus the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

Now, the only issue with Weeden not playing is figuring out which back-up quarterback on the Browns to pick up. The assumption was that Jason Campbell was the clear cut back-up, and he came on in relief for Weeden, throwing four passes, and completing one for six yards. According to an NFL.com report, Browns’ head coach Rob Chudzinski left the door open when asked to choose between Campbell or Brian Hoyer.

If Chudzinski isn’t revealing his quarterback plans yet, and Weeden does miss week three, it might be best to avoid any Browns starting quarterback, be it Hoyer or Campbell. However, if you find yourself in need of a Weeden replacement, and all the starting quarterbacks are rostered in your 2-QB league, wait on reports from Browns camp naming a starting quarterback for the week before perusing your 2-QB league’s waiver wire to pluck Hoyer or Campbell.

Stats used in this article from NFL.com, Rotoworld.com, and FantasyData.com

author avatar
Salvatore Stefanile
Salvatore Stefanile is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and believes that 2-QB fantasy football leagues will be the future of fantasy football. You can read about his 2-QB fantasy football opinions and analysis at XNSports.com.

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